Apprentice Accounting Technician

Job Details:

• Job Reference: HCC624813
• Salary Range: £27,780 - £30,564 per annum
• Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)
• Hours per week: 37
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Closing Date: 2 September 2026
• Interview Date: 14 September 2026

We are recruiting an Accountancy Apprentice (Association of Accounting Technicians) to join our Finance function that is at the heart of high-quality public service delivery to the people of Hampshire and beyond.

We are one of the largest local authorities in the country with a net revenue budget of £2.8bn, a capital programme of £2bn and a Pension Fund of £10.8bn.

We deliver our finance function in-house offering you great opportunities to develop and progress in your finance career .

The Role:

As an Accounting Technician you will support:

• Directorates with management accounting requirements.
• Technical accounting and the accounts and audit process.
• Financial support and systems supporting directorates and shared services partners with financial systems and management accounting requirements.

What you’ll do:

You’ll gain a professional qualification, AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians), whilst learning on the job, with paid time off to study and take exams. In addition, we will support you to develop your skills and experience while at work, getting you ready to progress in your accountancy career.

Not only is AAT a great qualification in its own right, but completing the apprenticeship also puts you in a strong position to move onto studying a chartered accountancy qualification. AAT could put you in the same position as an accountancy graduate in being eligible for exam exemptions but with the added benefit of earning a competitive salary and gaining valuable accountancy experience while you complete your apprenticeship.

If you are already AAT qualified, or you have started your AAT journey and would like support for your ongoing studies, or if gaining the AAT qualification is not right for you, we would still love to hear from you as this opportunity can be flexible for the right candidate who demonstrates their willingness to play a part in achieving value for money for our residents.

You will gain invaluable experience in a professional public sector organisation to support your qualification. Some of the key tasks you will be performing include:

• Delivering quality financial advice, system support and guidance to directorates and partners
• Assisting budget monitoring, budget preparation and year end accounts
• Helping directorates deliver savings targets across the County Council

What we’re looking for:

We are looking for the following skills and behaviours:

• good communication skills: the ability to build relationships and deliver excellent customer service.
• strong work ethic: the desire to learn and progress and drive continuous improvement.
• numerical ability: the ability to accurately interpret financial information.
• team player: a commitment to contribute to both your team and the wider finance service.
• self-starter: the ability to use initiative, work independently and prioritise own workload.

Please see the candidate pack for full details of what we’ll expect from you in these roles.

Why join us?

Supportive and collaborative working environment – We have a strong focus on employee wellbeing and development, providing support and training to help you grow personally and professionally.

Pension – You will have access to a Local Government Pension Scheme which, as a defined benefit scheme (your pension will be based on your average salary and years worked, rather than on the contributions you make), is a significant benefit on top of your salary which is hard to beat.

Remote working – Most aspects of this role can be carried out remotely, complemented by regular office-based working to support business needs (currently a minimum of one day per week at our Winchester office). You will be provided with a laptop and equipment to support hybrid working. Although you’ll have the option to work remotely, we will fully support you in getting to know our organisation, your role, and your team.

Annual leave – In addition to bank holidays, you will receive 24 days per annum (pro rata) rising to 27 days (pro rata) after 5 years’ service.

Please make sure you complete the application form fully and include examples of your experience when answering the questions. There is no requirement to include a CV with your application as it will be used for context only.

To find out more about what we can offer you in return, please also see our Benefits Package.

If you think you have what it takes to make a real difference in Hampshire, get in touch!

Additional Information:

Apprentice Accounting Technician Candidate Pack

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Shelley George, Deputy Operational Finance Manager on shelley.george@hants.gov.uk for an informal conversation on the vacancy we’re looking to fill

Lee Maidment, Finance Adviser on lee.maidment@hants.gov.uk for anything related to the AAT/apprenticeship element of the role.

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.